Solar Energy Industries Association
Capturing Solar Energy Various Collector Styles
Heating Water with Active and Passive Solar Collection
Flat Plate Solar Collector:
Components of a Flat Plate Collector.
- Cover Plate 1 - 2 Layers of Glass, Plastic, or Fiberglass. Plastic or Fiberglass must be UV Resistant.
- Batten: Holds Down Cover Plate
- Heat Transfer element: Pipes or tubes.
- Heat Exchange Medium : Usually Water
- Absorber: Metal plate painted black
- Insulation: Reduce heat loss through the back and sides
- Enclosure: Weatherproof Container
An Active Solar Hot Water System
Angle of Collector: Depends on the application, local climate, and latitude:
Rule of Thumb(s)
- For year round heating, set at Latitude
- For Summer Heating (Swimming Pool) Lartitude - 100
- For Winter Heating Latitude + 100
- In Willamette Valley Oregon for Domestic Hot Water you may want to use the Summer Heating angle because of the cloudy foggy winters. You would get a bigger payoff in the summer and in the winter collect more diffuse radiation.
Domestic Hot Water:
Examples of Hot Water Solar Systems
Other Examaples (nice diagrams for lecture, but why a separate boiler?)
- No Pump required: Basic Principle, Hot Water Rises
- Collector with tank
Batch Heating System
- A Hot Water Tank in an insulated box. Preheat water before it goes to your tank.
Heating A Swimming Pool with Solar
- No reason not too!!!!
- Swimming Pool:
- No glazing required. (Unless heating in the winter)Not shooting for maximum efficiency.
- Don't need to heat water as hot as Domestic Hot Water
- Collectors for Pools
Polypropolene Swimming Pool Collector
Hot Water System in Eugene. The Gent House
Solar Hot Water Photovoltaic??
Solar Hot Water PV Great Smoky Mountains